Some More of the Strange and Eccentric Festivals and Events in the UK - February

Here is a continuation of what I hope to be a series I started during January. The strange, but sometimes odd, or even unusual events that can take place across the UK.

February (as well as January) was introduced into the Roman calendar by Numa Pompilous when the calendar was extended from ten months to twelve. February comes from the word Februa- which means cleansing or purification; this reflects the rituals undertaken before spring. February was called Sol-monath (or cake month), by the Anglo Saxons because at that time cakes were offered to the gods. It has also been known as sprout-kale, because of the sprouting of the cabbage or kale. Being the shortest month, it is known in Welsh as Y-mis-bach, or the little month. The Romans and Celts believed February to be the start of spring.

The second of the month is known as Candlemas Day, it is the midpoint between the shortest day and the spring equinox. The Christmas season in olden times lasted for 40 days, until the 2^nd of February. This day is so called because candles were brought into church to be blessed ready for the coming year.

One of the strangest events to have ever taken place during this month happened on the 8^th of the month in the year 1855, overnight heavy snow had covered large parts of the country that was nothing unusual. The people of South Devon, in the south west of England awoke to a sight that has mystified all ever since. Amongst the fresh snow were hundreds of sets of footprints, all in a single line in the form of a cloven hoof, but all in single file. They covered over one hundred miles, went through fields, gardens, towns and even crossed the rooftops of any buildings in the way. The newspapers in London carried the story, people were intrigued and then frightened, across the country it was believed to be the work of the devil. No explanation for this was ever discovered.

The 27^th (in 2009) is Kissing Friday (always the Friday following Shrove Tuesday). English schoolboys were once entitled to go out and kiss the girls on this day without the fear of being punished or rejected, this lasted until about the 1940's. In Sileby, Leicestershire this day was known as Nippy Tuck Day. The towns men could go and demand a kiss from whatever woman they chose, if this was denied to them then they were permitted to pinch that woman's bottom.

Imbolc Fire festival, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. This is based on a 2000 year old Celtic festival, marking the beginning of spring. A procession which consists of fire jugglers, antler wearing drummers, Celtic characters, Fire Druids, a 12ft tall Jack Frost and a spring Green Man. Other attractions include a fire circus and music.

Hurling the silver ball, in St. Ives, Cornwall. The first Monday of the month, this annual event is started at the parish church by the Mayor, the silver ball is passed between people of the town until 12.00pm and then whoever is holding it at that time has to return it to the Mayor at his office in the Guildhall.

Slaithwaite Moonraking festival, is event takes place between the 14^th and 21^st 2009. On the Saturday they begin with a street procession and theatre. This is based on a village tale about two 19^th century smugglers who were collecting barrels of illegal moonshine from the canal, when discovered by police they hid the barrels and told the police they were raking the moons reflection out of the canal. Thinking they were a pair of fools the police let them go.

Shrove Tuesday, or pancake day as it is often referred to, many towns and villages will hold annual events of pancake races on this day. Some for the prestige of being the village champion for a year, others do the event purely to raise money for charity.

In Ashbourne in Derbyshire they have an annual event of Shrovetide football. It is listed as the biggest game of football in the world, two teams numbering in their hundreds take to the field, the field in question being the town of Ashbourne, it is 3 miles long by 2 miles wide. Shops are boarded up for the day as the locals take to the streets to try to win, the northern part of the town take on the southern part, it dates from Elizabethan times, the earliest reference to this being 1683.

Other Shrove Tuesday events include skipping as well as other organised massed football games.

Another tradition dating back many years over the 29^th of this month include the one day in four years that a woman could propose to a man, in Scotland if a man refused a proposal on this day he could be fined, also in Scotland anyone born on the 29^th was considered to be unlucky.